Water-crane.



No. 643,|26. Patented rgb. I3, 190D.

i G. a. GUY L A. J. ANnEBsnN.

WATER CRANE.

(Application filed May 12, 1899.)

2 SheAets--Sheet l.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. I3, 190m.'

G. G. GUY A. J. ANDERSON.

WATER CRANE.

(Application led May 12, 1899.)

2 Sheets-fSheet 2 @No Model.)

s Nomus Pzrzns co, Hom-uma., wAsHw von o c ATES FFICE.

PATENT GEORGE G. GUY AND ALBERT J. ANDERSON, OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS, 'AS- SIGNORS TO THE UNITED STATES WIND ENGINE AND PUMP COMPANY,

OE SAME PLACE.

`WATER-CRANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 643,126, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed May 12, 1899. Serial No. 716,507. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE G. GUY and ALBERT J. ANDERSON, residents of Batavia, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Cranes, of which the following is a speciiication.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of water-cranes for use in double-track roads, and is designed especially to furnish a crane or column which can be employed where there is very little space between the two tracks and where it is impossible to use an ordinary column rising between the two tracks.

The fundamental idea of our invention consists in suspending the end of a water-column over the space between two tracks and in furnishing it with a spout which can be carried to either side and lowered, so as to water an engine on either track. In carrying out this idea we have made some improvements which are applicable to columns generally, while others are applicable only to constructions of our particular type. Y

Referring to the two sheets of drawings, in which the same letters of reference are used to designate identical parts in all the views, Figure l is an elevation of the complete structure, parts of it being broken away to bringl it within the space allowed by the dimensions of the sheet. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a pulley secured to the spout and used in connection with the valve-controlling apparatus. Fi g. 3 is an elevation of aportion of the valvecontrolling apparatus on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a central section through the Adepending end of the column and the spout, showing some of the details of construction. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is asectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4, but with the parts on a slightly-smaller scale.

A represents the vertical portion of the water-column which is located at one side of the track and has a valve mechanism B beneath the surface of the ground for shutting off water from the column. We have shown this vertical column and the valve mechanism as .of the ordinary construction known as the Mansfield water-column; but it may be here stated that the column A does not rotate as in the Mansfield structure, and consequently the particular form of valve mechanism employed therein to permit of this rotation is unnecessary. To control this valve mechanism, the vertically-reciprocating rod Cis employed and connected thereto in the customary manner. The connection for operatingY this rod O will be referred to later. This Vertical portion A is connected by an elbow D with a substantially horizontal pipe E, which may be supported in any convenient way and which we have shown as supported by the framework or bridge F, which may form a part of a coaling-bridge, as it is convenient to locate the water-column adjacent to the coaling-bridge, so that the engine can be supplied with fuel and water at' the same time. This substantially horizontal portion E is connected by an elbow G with a depending pipe H, which is located centrally between the tracks J and K. This depending'pipeI-I terminates in an overhan ging flange L, which has secured to its u'nderside the ring or collar M, which furnishes the ultimate support for the rotating jointN. This rotating j ointN is provided with a fiange O at or near its upper end, and this iiange extends into the channel formed between the overhanging angular flange L and the collar M and is supported by the series of ball or roller bearings P, which we preferably locate in ways or channels formed on the upper side of the collar M and the lower side of the flange O. We also locate another set of ball o r roller bearings Q preferably in channels formed on the upper side of the iiange O and the lower side of the horizontal portion of the ange L. As will appear from subsequent descriptions, the pressure on this joint may be shifted around through about one hundred and eighty degrees, and in every position it is applied as a horizontal thrust against the lower end of the joint N, so that it tends to throw one side of the flange O up and the other down, and thus clamp any ordinary bearing. By employing the two rows of ball or roller bearings arranged as shown we are enabled to obviate any difiiculty arising from this side thrust in the dierent positions. Covering IOO the joint from the inside we insert a sleeve R, which is preferably made of wrought-iron, the general structure of the column and pipes being ordinarily of cast-iron, and this sleeve R is secured in the lower end of the depending vpipe H by a joint, so that the inner surface of the sleeve R is flush with the inner surface of the depending pipe l-I. As will be seen, this sleeve R depends for a considerable distance below the joint, and thus prevents vthe access of any water to the bearings, which have just been described, as the water falls past the bearings, and by reason of the sleeve R they are absolutely protected from the danger of any water reaching them, which of course would be disastrous in the winter season, as there would be danger of the joint freezing.

The lower end of the rotating joint N is conveniently formed with a flange, by which it is joined to the rotating elbow S, the end of which is expanded so as to form a hollow sphere with two considerable sectors thereof removed. This hollow sphere T has two oppositely-disposed lugs U located on the outer sides in a line kthrough the center of curvature, and these lugs U are provided with cylindrical holes V, into which the correspondingly-shaped ends W of the bearing pins or screws X take. These screws Xare screwed int-o or otherwise secured in the ears Y, projecting rearwardly from the ring Z, which is rigidly secured, preferably, around the outer end of the spout A'. A set-nut B' may be employed to hold the screw X in place.

It will readily be seen that with the construction of the joint N and the joining of the elbow S with the spout A' the spout can be swung to either side and raised or lowered, as may be necessary in carrying out its purposes. To normally hold the spout in a position where it can be conveniently reached and `still be out of the way, we provide the chain to the full-line position of Fig. l the action,

of both weights G' will be to draw it to a horizontal position and that the action of the lefthand weight G' will be to carry it to its intermediate horizontal position, (shown in dotted lines,) wh ere it is j ust between the two tracks and can be easily reached from the tender of an engine on either side.

To control the operation of the valve D, we pivotally mount a bell-crank lever J" upon the elbow D, and this bell-crank J' has preferably two links K', which may be small hollow rods, extending a short distance above the substantially horizontal portion E of the pipe. The right-hand ends of these rods K' are connected by the short cross-head L', which has a screwythreaded aperture therein, into which is screwed the shaft M', which is mounted to rotate freely, but not to slide in a bearing N', formed in or secured to a bracket O', secured to the elbow G. The cross-head L' and the rods or links K' are prevented from turning by means of the channels P', formed in each end of the cross-head L', which t over the parallel bars Q', secured at one end to the bracket O' and at the other ends to a support or bracket R', suitably located and secured upon the horizontal portion E of the pipe. This bracket R' may also be used to furnish a bearing for the left-hand end of the screwshaft M. The right-hand end of this shaft M' has a bevel gear-pinion S' secured thereto, and it will be seen that as the shaft M' is rotated the cross-head L', carrying with it the links K', will be screwed back and forth, so as to operate the valve B. To secure this rotation of the shaft M', we mount the crossshaft T' in bearings formed in the yoke U', formed on or carried by the bracket O', and on this sh aft T' we secure the bevel gear-pinion V', meshing with the pinion S'. To the outer end of the shaft T' we secure the chainpulley wheel W,which is preferably so shaped as to operate with an endless chain X', which also passes over a pulley or sheave Y', which is mounted to swivel in the support Z', secured to the spout A' near its lower end.

The operation of our complete device will be readily apparent. When the water is to be taken,` the tender is run alongside the spout A' on either side of the track, and the spout IOO is drawn down in the proper position to deliver the water into the tender. Afew pulls on the chain X' serve to shift the rods K' and C sufficiently to open the valve B and allow the water-under pressure to flow through the pipes and into the tender. When the operation is completed, the chain X' is moved in the other direction until the valve B is closed and the operation is completed. When the spout is released, the weights G' bring it automatically to its normal position.

While we have shown our invention as embodied in the structure which we at present consider to be best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will be understood that it is capable of some modifications and that we do not desire to be limited in the terms of the following claims except as may be necessitated by the state of the art.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, isi,-

1. A water-column comprising a vertical portion as A, connected to a supply of water, a valve B connected with said column for controlling the admission of water thereto, a substantially horizontal portion as E, a depending portion as H, with the spout A', connections between said spout and depending portion whereby the spout can be swung vertically and horizontally without breaking the joint, and connections between said spout and valve to operate the Valve, substantially as and for the purpose described.

IIO

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of the stationary depending portion H, with the rotating joint N connected thereto rotating in a horizontal plane, and the spout A' pivotally connected to the rotating joint so as to swing in any desired vertical plane, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the

` combination of the column A having the valve B connected therewith and terminatingin the depending portion H, with the spout A connected thereto so as to swing in any desired vertical and horizontal plane without breaking the joint, and connections between said spout and the valve B whereby said .valve can be operated when desired, said connections comprising the link K and the chain X', and connections between the link and the chain whereby the longitudinal movement of the chain will reciprocate the link.

4. In a device of the class described, the

` combination of the column A having the valve I3 connected therewith and terminating in the depending portion H, with the spout A' connected thereto so as to swing in any desired vertical and horizontal plane,and connections between said spout and the valve B whereby said valve can be operated when desired, said connections comprising the link Khaving the Y in the bevel-gear S', the shaft T' having the bevel-gear V' and the pulley-wheel W', and means for rotating said pulley-wheel.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of the column A having thevalve B connected therewith and terminating in the depending portion H, with the spout A' connected thereto so as to swing in any desired vertical and horizontal plane,and connections between said spout and the valve Bwhereby said valve can be operated when desired, said connections comprising the link K having the cross-head L', the screw-shaft M terminating in the bevel-gear S', the shaft T' having the bevel-gear V' and the pulley-wheel W', and

a continuous chain X passing over the pnl-- ley-wheel W and a sheave Y' fastened near the lower end ot' the spout- A'.

7. A water-column comprising thedepending portion I-I, the rotating joint N connected therewith, and the sleeve `R secured on the scribed.

8. In a device of the` class described, the v combination of two conduit members, one sta-` tionary and the other rotary, such as the depending portion H, and the rotating joint N, withv rotatable connections between said members comprising the channel on one member and a Hange on the other, and two sets ot ball or roller bearings located between the flange and the channel, one set above the `flange and the other set below it, `and the spout A pivoted to said joint N at one side thereof, substantiall y as and for the purpose described.

GEORGE G. GUY. p ALBERT J ANDERSON. Witnesses:

H. N. WADE, G. C. SToDDARD.

6 i joint, substantially as and for the purpose de 

